Franklin, Virginia
The economy of this small city in Virginia’s Coastal Plain is heavily reliant on agriculture and manufacturing to maintain its viability. Franklin, like Bastrop in Louisiana, was severely harmed by the closure of an International Paper mill in the area, which resulted in the layoff of more than 1,000 workers in 2009. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the company employed nearly 4 percent of the workforce in Franklin and the surrounding counties at the time of the report. Although the median household income in Franklin is not abysmal, at just over $40,000, the unemployment rate in the city is three times higher than the state average.
Franklin, Virginia
East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis appears to be making headlines for all the wrong reasons, as it is consistently ranked among the most dangerous places in the country, according to various surveys. Compared to the national average, you had a 27-fold higher chance of being murdered in this city in 2019. As is the case in several other city areas on this list, East St. Louis’ economic situation is similar to that of the others. It is still struggling to regain its footing after losing a large number of businesses and residents during the 1960s and 1970s eras of decline. Nearly 40% of East St. Louis residents live below the poverty line, and the average household income is only $24,343.
East St. Louis, Illinois